Category Archives: British history

Jane Austen’s “Northanger Abbey” – Who Are Catherine Morland and the Tilneys?

Posted on May 26, 2017 by

What do we know of Catherine Morland and the Tilneys in Austen’s “Northanger Abbey”? Much of the description of the Abbey and of the Tilneys come to us from Austen’s heroine, Catherine Morland. Catherine comes to Bath with dreams of … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Social Class in Jane Austen “Emma”

Posted on May 23, 2017 by

There are those who claim Emma represents Jane Austen’s literary accomplishment. I am not of that persuasion, although I think my indifference comes more from the fact I do not find Emma Woodhouse a character I admire, than it does … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Testing the Money: The Trial of Pyx

Posted on May 22, 2017 by

The Trial of Pyx is a near-800 year old ceremony to test Britain’s coinage. The Trial of the Pyx dates as far back as 1249. The Queen’s Remembrancer oversees the ceremony. Until the 19th century this duty was undertaken at the … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, commerce, customs and tradiitons, Living in the UK | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Complicated Banbury Peerage Case

Posted on May 19, 2017 by

In writing historicals set in England in the early 1800s, it is necessary for me to possess more than a working knowledge of primogeniture, which is both the custom and the law of inheritance in practice at that time. In … Continue reading →

Posted in British history, Church of England, historical fiction, history, Inheritance, Jane Austen, marriage, primogenture, titles of aristocracy | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Bit About Horses, Guest Blog from Jude Knight + Release of “A Raging Madness” + a Giveaway

Posted on May 18, 2017 by

Today, I welcome my internet friend, Jude Knight, with a bit about her research on horses and the latest release in The Golden Redepennings series, plus a GIVEAWAY.  My qualifications for writing about horses are ten years as a Riding … Continue reading →

Posted in book excerpts, book release, British history, eBooks, excerpt, family, Georgian England, Guest Blog, Guest Post, historical fiction, Living in the Regency, marriage, Napoleonic Wars, Regency era, Regency romance, romance, writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Georgian Commerce: The London Docks, Part V

Posted on May 17, 2017 by

In Roman and medieval times, ships tended to dock at small quays in the present-day  city of London or Southwark an area known as the Pool of London. However, this gave no protection against the elements, was vulnerable to thieves and suffered from … Continue reading →

Posted in British currency, British history, buildings and structures, business, commerce, Georgian England | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Bow Street Runners and The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin, a 2016 Finalist for the Chanticleer International Book Awards

Posted on May 16, 2017 by

 In my newest cozy mystery, The Prosecution of Mr. Darcy’s Cousin, the character of Thomas Cowan makes a repeat performance. Readers met Cowan as a friend of and former sergeant serving under Colonel Fitzwilliam during the Spanish campaign of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Jane Austen, Regency era, British history, Living in the Regency, Great Britain | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments